The first time I heard this Bellingham band they were standing, actually performing, in front of me! A few months ago I happened to be at the Crocodile to see a friendâ€™s band. But when I saw a walking pair of glasses and sideburns, a.k.a. lead singer Mark Heimer, and neck-tie donning Andrea Heimer set up their gear on the floor rather than the Crocâ€™s â€œspaciousâ€ stage, I knew I needed to stay and watch. From their opening song, their high-energy, chant-along ditties kept me gawking in one place; that is until the lead singer grabbed the scruff of my neck and was singing to me, forehead to forehead.

With mic in hand, Heimer channeled the spirit of front men like Les Savy Favâ€™s Tim Harrington, the Make upâ€™s Ian Svenonius and even Andre 3000 from Outkast. On anthems like, â€œYou Say Dumb, I Sing Dumâ€ and â€œWe Used to Look Goodâ€ it was impossible not to sing, yell, or nod along.No-Fi Soul RebellionThe Varitable Rainbow of SongBy Paul Groth

The first time I heard this Bellingham band they were standing, actually performing, in front of me! A few months ago I happened to be at the Crocodile to see a friendâ€™s band. But when I saw a walking pair of glasses and sideburns, a.k.a. lead singer Mark Heimer, and neck-tie donning Andrea Heimer set up their gear on the floor rather than the Crocâ€™s â€œspaciousâ€ stage, I knew I needed to stay and watch. From their opening song, their high-energy, chant-along ditties kept me gawking in one place; that is until the lead singer grabbed the scruff of my neck and was singing to me, forehead to forehead.

With mic in hand, Heimer channeled the spirit of front men like Les Savy Favâ€™s Tim Harrington, the Make upâ€™s Ian Svenonius and even Andre 3000 from Outkast. On anthems like, â€œYou Say Dumb, I Sing Dumâ€ and â€œWe Used to Look Goodâ€ it was impossible not to sing, yell, or nod along.

The Varitable Rainbow of Song is a great representation of what youâ€™d see at a No-Fi Soul Rebellion show. Almost every song is an amalgamation of 80â€™s punk intensity, danceable hip-hop beats, and catchy, Beck-like rhymes. On the refrain of the Modest Mouse-y â€œToo Mean,â€ Heimer sings, â€œIt is painfully clear we are nuthinâ€™/ Without a scab to pick on/ Without a rock to kick on.â€ Itâ€™s something I could see myself lip-syncing into a comb while looking at a mirror.

This bandâ€™s live act is unforgettable and The Varitable Rainbow of Song is an album that seamlessly crosses over from indie punk to hip-hop and soul. The songs jump from punch-in-the-face intensity to smooth soul, sometimes all at once. Itâ€™s a definite must-have for anyone whoâ€™s been waiting for a fist-in-the-air, yell-along album. â€“ (9/10)

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NadaMucho.com is a free, volunteer online music and pop culture publication operating from the Pacific Northwest since March 1997. We also like feet. One time we shot a man in a small town just outside Dubuque. Our favorite color is dog.